Switch structure



ug. l, 1939. c. .1. BREITENSTEIN SWITCH STRUCTURE f5 Sheets-Sheet lFiled Oct. 2,4, 1936 w YV, w@ @1j /N MNH W NNY A ,W @ki AUS' L 1939- c.J. BREwENs-mm 2,168,057

'SWITCH STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 24, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 l?? fm@ ugf 11939 c. J. BREITENSTEIN 2,168,057

SWITCH STRUCTURE Filed Oct. 221, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Aug. 1,1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SWITCH STRUCTURE Application October24, 1936, Serial No. 107,468

8 Claims.

'l0 upright tube or magazine loaded with the coins or checks to behandled or dispensed. Operatively associated with the lower end of themagazine is an ejector member preferably in the form of a slide toreceive and dispense checks from the magazine on each operative strokethereof.

This slide is driven by an electric motor device, such a motor orequivalent, and the ejector will operate to make passes relative to themagazine so long as the motor remains energized. To

limit the time of operation of the motor and thus to control the numberof passes and checks dispensed by the ejector it has been proposed toprovide various forms: of electric control switches and timers operablefrom the ejector. In the past, depending upon the organization withwhich the check handling apparatus was to be used, it was foundnecessary to provide different forms of timer switches to govern theapparatus in accordance with particular situations and results sought.In other words no universal timer was available to meet all situationsinvolving varying the number of dispenser operations to be performed.

With this general situation in mind the main object of the pr-esentinvention is to provide an improved switch structure for a motor drivencheck handling apparatus or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide such means in the form ofa rotary timer switch,

embodying means affording a maximum number of adjustments to vary, asdesired, the periods of operation of the motor.

Still another object Aof the invention is to provide a timer of simpleform adapted for universal use with all check handling mechanisms of thetype mentioned so as to eliminate the necessity for providing differenttimers for every situation of use of such check handling mechanisms.

Another object is to provide such control means which will be cheap toproduce and positive in operation.

Other important objects of the invention will become apparent to thoseskilled in this art as the disclosure is more fully made.

Briey, these important objects may be achieved by the illustrativeexample of the lnvention herein disclosed, wherein the switch structurecomprises a stationary conta'ct and brush carrying plate adjacent arotatable conductor plate with which the brushes are in electrical 5Contact. The rotary plate is driven in a step by step manner from themovement of the motor driven ejector and the operation of the motorcontinues until an insulator portion on the rotary plate breaks thecircuit through a brush, 10 whereupon the motor and the dispensingaction ceases. Thereafter, the rotary plate may be reset to its initialstarting position for repeat operations as desired. By varying thepositions of the brushes any number of combinations as desired, 15within limits, may be achieved to vary the time of operation of themotor.

So much will suice in presenting a general view of the novel structure,which in one practicable form is shown in the accompanying draw- 20ings, wherein:

Figure l is a general plan view of a check handling apparatus with whichis operatively associated the improved control, or timer means of thisinvention; 25

Figure 2 is a general side elevational view of the complete unit.

Figure 3 is a transverse cross sectional `View through the controlmechanism taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 2, looking in the directionof 30 the arrows;

Figure 4 is a detail face view of the stationary switch plate per se,taken from the line 4 4 of Figure l, looking in the. indicateddirection; and,

Figure 5 is a cross sectional view to show the 35 rotary conductor plateof the timer, taken along the line 5 5 of Figure 1, looking in thedirection of the arrows.

In Figure l, a reset solenoid, later to be described, has been left offto make the under struc- 40 ture more clear.

The check handling apparatus illustrated may be of any standard form,and herein for the sake of illustration, it comprises a unit, includinga horizontal base plate I0, along one side of which 45 is mounted asmaller horizontal plate II held in spaced relationship to the baseplate by four screw posts I2, including spacers I3. Said plate II isformed with a circular opening and in registration therewith said plateII carries an up- 50 standing tube I4 forming a magazine containing thechecks or coins to be handled and dispensed.

Slidably operable over the base IU between the pairs of posts I2 is anejector, herein shown by way of example, as a reciprocatory slide I5hav- 55 .naled in suitable brackets 30, as shown.

ing an opening I 6 therein to receive checks by gravitation from thetube I4 when said opening I6 is in registration with the tube. The baseIll is formed with a check drop opening I1 below the slide I5 in anoffset position from the lower end of the tube in the usual manner.

When the slide I5 is in check receiving position relative to themagazine it is in its normal position with one end thereof abuttedagainst a pair of upturned endstops I8 formed at one edge of the baseplate I0. At the opposite end of the slide I5 is a screw post I9 aroundwhich is hooked a spring 26, the other end of said spring being securedto a tang 2I formed on the stationaryl top plate II. Thus, the spring26, in a manner later to appear, serves to pull the slide l5 to itsnormal position abutting the end stops I8. The screw I9 is a set screwbut'does not screw. down into the slide I5 but merely rests looselythere:

Adjacent Vthe screw post I9 the side of the slide I5 is notched as at 22to provide rigid upstanding integral bracket orrarin 23 for a purposesoon Vto appear.

To one side of the top plate II the base plate III carries another plate24 serving as a bracket for mounting an electric motor 25, or equivalentpower rdevice such for example as an electromagnet. This motor has` ashaft V26 carrying fast thereon a worm gear 21 in mesh with and ldrivinga reducer worm wheel 28, said latter wheelbeing fast on a transverseshaft 29 jour- This shaft 29 extends a substantial distance as shown inFigure 1 to a point above the slide I5 where it carries and turns ablank wheel or diskV 3l on which is mounted an eccentric pin or roller32 turning with the wheel in aV vertical plane where it can engage `thebracket arm 23, heretofore described.

The screw I9 is threaded into and through a horizontal angular extension33 of a pivoted pawl 34. Said pawl is pivotally mounted intermediate itsends by means of a pivot pin 35 carried in an upstanding arm 36 includedin the extreme left hand end of the slide I5 as viewed in Figures 1 and2. By means of a lock nut 31 and by turning the screw I9 the extension33 may be raised orlowered in lrelation to the slide I5 whereby theoperative end of said pawl 34 may be properly positioned in relation toa ratchet wheel presently to be described. It can now be seen that thepull of the spring 20 is through the screw I9, pawl 34 and post 36 forholding the slide I5 normally against the end stops I8. The line of pullof said spring 20 also is such as to hold the lower end of the screw I9loosely abutting the top side of the slide I5. This brings the controlmeans for the motor 25 next in line for description and accordinglyattention is directed to Figures 1 and 3.

A plate 38, in channel form, is secured by screws 39 to the base plateI9 oif the driving end of the motor 25, said plate thus providing twoparallel, spaced, upstanding walls 40 and 4I. A spacer sleeve 42 isturnably mounted in the wall 4I) for rotation about a horizontal axisprovided by a transverse shaft 43 passing through said sleeve 42. Bymeans of a pin 44 the shaft and 46 radiallyv o ut- ,switch is.

wardly of the periphery of the wheel 45 as shown in Figure 2, on whichbolt is pivotally mounted a dog'41 having a bent end 48 to engage theteeth of the ratchet wheel. Said dog, by means of a coil spring 49 woundaround the bolt 46 and a leg engaging the lever or dog 41 is heldnormally to duty in the wheel teeth as seen in Figure 2. The dog lever41 above its fulcrum carries a pin 5I)l embraced by a notch 5I in anarmature 52 for a so-called reset solenoid 53 mounted by means of abracket 54 on the upper end of the wall 40, as shown. The solenoid 53 isincluded in any suitable circuit with a source of energy as indicated at55, said circuit being normally broken by means of a normally openswitch 56 Yso that the solenoid under normal conditions remainsdeenergized.

The stationary wall 46 has hooked into an opening therein one leg of aspring 51 coiled around the sleeve 42 between the wall 46 and ratchetwheel, while the other leg of said spring vis secured to a pin 58carried by the ratchet wheel 45, as shown. As the wheel 45 turns in aclockwise direction as ,Viewed in Figure 2 it can be seen that thespring 51 is wound and stores energy which cannot be released to drivethe ratchet wheel back to its Ainitial starting position until the dog41 is released. To insure where this initial starting position will bethe wall 46 rigidly carries a stop block 59 and the ratchet wheel 45near its peripherycarries a stop pin 66. In other words, the wheel 45can be driven reversely by the spring 51 until its pin 60 abuts the stopblock 55.

The shaft 43 at its opposite end, by means of a pin 6I has xed to it toturn therewith a sleeve 62 turnable also in the stationary wall 4I. Theend of the sleeve 62 adjacent the sleeve 42 has tted thereon to turntherewith a disk 63 which has riveted thereto a larger but insulateddisk ring 64. Said ring 64 in turn has riveted to it a still larger butconductor ring 65 and a segment of the periphery of said latter ringcarries an insulator strip 66 of the desired arcuate length,

Asaid strip 66 as shown in Figure 5 throughout its length projectingradiallyy outwardly beyond the outer periphery ofthe ring 65. Thisresult 1s brought about by cutting away as at '36' a portion of theperiphery of the wheel 65 equal to the length of the segment 66. Thusthe periphery of the disk wheel 65 is concentric and formed by a portionof. the disk 65 and the remainder of said periphery is formed by thestrip 65.

By means of rivets 61 there is rigidly secured to the wall 4I a circularnon-conductor or insulated disk 68 through which the sleeve 62 also ispassed as seen in Figure 3. Secured to the disk 66 is a flat spring wirebrush 69 bearing against the conductor ring 65 as shown in Figure 3.This brush 69 by means of a wire it isi'n connection electrically withthe motor 25.

A segment of the disk 68 is provided along radial lines and inequidistantly spaced angular relationship with pairs of holes 1I anypair of which is adapted to have secured therein by screws 12 an anglebracket 13 carrying a conductor brush 14 the free end of which is V-shaped in cross section and rests on the periphery of the conductor disk65. Thus, these brushes span and space between the two disks 68 and 65as shown in Figure 1. One brush 14,

shown in Figure 1, yis connected bya wire 15 with a source4 of energy16and a wire 11 to the motor 25. In the wire 11 is disposed a normallyopen It can be seen now that with ,the 75 brush 69 and wire 10, disk 65,motor 25, a brush 13, wire 15 and battery 16 in circuit, that the motor25 will be energized and operates when the key switch 18 is closed.

Similarly each of the brushes 13 can be wired in a circuit with thesource of energy and the motor with separate switches 18 in each saidcircuit, so that any one of a number of switches 18 can be successivelyclosed to cause operation of the motor and check handling apparatus. Theuse and operation of the structure will now be described.

In Figures 1 and 2 all parts are shown in their starting positionpreparatory to the making of a controlled dispenser operation. A switch18 for a brush 14 and the motor 25 is opened so that the latter standsdeenergized. Of course, the solenoid 53 in another circuit also standsdeenergized and consequently the dog 48 engages the teeth on the ratchetwheel 45, the latter also by means of the stops 59, 6I] being in aninitial starting position. The pawl 34 carried on the slide ejector I5,is withdrawn from the ratchet wheel because the spring 20 has the slidepulled back against the stops I 8. This means that the opening I6 in theslide is in check receiving position relative to the tube I4.

Only one circuit 15 for a brush 14 is shown and we will assume this isfor the first and lowermost brush 14 shown in Figure 5 where an arrowindicates that the wheel 65, as viewed, turns counterclockwise with thebrush 14, of course, standing stationary. When the key switch 18 is nowclosed a circuit is completed as heretofore described to energize themotor 25.

Consequently the shaft of the motor drives the gearing 21, 28 and shaft29, which in turn drives the wheel 3|. Thus the roller 32 engages andwipes against an edge of the upright bracket 23 to move the slide I5away from its home position to dispense a check lodged in the slidethrough the check drop opening I1 in the base II?. The slide, as itssolid part passes under the magazine, supports the column of checkstherein in the well known manner. The slide may if desired be twice thethickness of the checks thereby making it possible to handle two checkson each stroke of the slide. As the slide is thus moved the pawl 34 isalso moved to engage the ratchet wheel and move it is the directionindicated by the arrow as viewed in Figure 2. The stroke of the pawl 34is such that the ratchet wheel is moved but one tooth distance away fromthe stop 59 for each stroke of the slide I5. As the ratchet wheel 45 ismoved in the manner indicated the spring 51 is wound and the dog 48holds the gain of the ratchet wheel.

The ratchet wheel 45 carries turnable with it the disk 65 one step whichis just sufficient to bring the insulator strip 66 under the rst brush14 as viewed in Figure 5 whereupon the circuit through the conductordisk 65 is broken and the motor 25 is deenergized.

By this time also, the roller 32 has moved away from the bracket 23 sothat the spring 20 is operative to pull the slide I5 back to checkloading position against the end stops I8. The pawl 34, of course, isnow also in retracted position. By closing the key switch 56 thesolenoid 53 may be energized to pull the dog lever 41 away from theratchet wheel 45 so that the spring 51 is operative to drive the wheels45, 65 back to their initial starting position as determined by thestops 59, 60.

The rst brush 14 shown in the lowermost position in Figure 5 thus servesto make a circuit to keep the motor in operation just long enough tomake one dispenser stroke of the ejector I5. If a circuit wereestablished through the second brush 14, looking counterclockwise inFigure 5, then the motor would run long enough to cause two dispenserstrokes of the slide i5. Thus, for each successive brush 14 placed onthe stationary disk 68 in the holes 10 therein, there would result anadditional stroke of the slide. Or if only one brush 'I4 were to be usedand it were placed a considerable angular distance, in acounterclockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 5, away from the leadingend of the insulator strip 55; then with such circuit established themotor would run until, step by step, the insulator portion reaches thesaid brush 14 to break the circuit.

It can now be seen that for the disclosure shown twenty brushes 14 maybe used in regularly spaced sequence, or any one of the twenty may beused. Thus the nearest brush 14 to the leading end of the insulatorstrip 66 would result in dispensing one check, and the farthest brush 14would result in dispensing twenty checks. By using a sliide thick enoughto move two checks on each stroke the combinations set up could bedoubled. The structure is obviously such that it will be useful in mostany organization employing these dispensers and the timer therefor issubstantially a universal unit for all situations.

It can now be appreciated that a simple structure has been provided toachieve the desirable objects of this invention.

It is the intention to cover all changes and modifications of theexample of the invention shown for the sake of the disclosure which donot in material respects constitute departures from the spirit and scopeof the invention as hereinafter claimed.

What is claimed is:

l. In a switch structure, a support, a shaft carried thereby, a sleeveturnable on the shaft and carrying a movable disk including an insulatorring, a conductor ring carried by insulator ring as part of the disk, astationary dak or" insulated material associated with the supportadjacent the disk and carrying a conductor wiper always contacting theproximate face of the conductor ring of the movable disk at a pointwardly of the periphery of the said ring, one or more conductor brushesrigidly carried on the periphery of the stationary disk and spanning thespace between the two disks in a manner to cause said latter brush orbrushes to engage the periphery of the conductor ring, and means to turnthe movable disk.

2. In a switch structure, a support, a movable disk supported therebyand including an insulator portion, a conductor ring carried by theinsulator portion radially outwardly thereof as part oi' the disk, astationary piece of insulating material carried by the support adjacentthe disk and carrying a spring conductor member wiping the conductorring on its proximate face at a point inwardly of the periphery of thering, one or more conductor brushes carried by the stationary piece toengage the periphery of the ring, and means to turn the movable disk.

3. In a switch structure, a support, a movable disk supported therebyand including an insulator portion, a conductor ring carried by theinsulator portion radially outwardly thereof as part of the disk, astationary disk of insulating material carried by the support adjacentthe movable disk and carrying in an oi-center position a springconductor member wiping the conductor ring on its proximate face at apoint inwardly of the periphery of the ring, said disks being ofsubstantially the same size, one or more conductor brushes being rigidlycarried by the stationary disk in a manner to span and engage to turnthe movable disk.

4. In a switch structure, a support, a movable disk supported therebyand including an insulator portion, a conductor ring carried by theinsulator portion radially outwardly thereof as part of the disk, astationary disk of insulating material carried by the support adjacentthe movable disk and carrying a spring conductor member wiping theconductor ring on its proximate face, said disks being of substantiallythe same size, one arcuate portion of the stationary disk carrying anumber of angularly spaced brushes spanning the peripheral edges of bothdisks, the movable disk having an arcuate portion of its peripheryrelieved and carrying an insulated piece to overlap said relievedportion and complete the circle of the movable disk, andrmeans to turnthe movable disk.

5. In a switch structure, a support, a movable disk supported therebyand including an insulator' portion, a conductor ring carried by theinsulator portion radially outwardly thereof as part ci the disk, astationary disk of insulating material carried by the support adjacentthe movable disk and carrying a spring conductor member wiping theconductor ring on its proximate face, said disks being of substantiallythe same size, one arcuate portion of the stationary disk carrying anumber of angularly spaced brushes spanning the peripheral edges of bothdisks, the movable disk having an arcuate portion of its peripheryrelieved and carrying an insulated piece to overlap said relievedportion and complete the circle of the movable disk, said brushes havingtheir end portions which Contact the movable disk periphery formed inV-section in the direction of the length of the brushes, and means toturn the movable disk.

6. In a switch structure, a unit mountable in position as such andcomprising a support having spaced upright walls, a stationary disk ofinsulated material mounted on one wall, a shaft carried in the walls, adisk turnabley about the shaft axis parallel to the stationary disk andof about the same size and including an insulated portion and an outerconductor ring, a wiper carried on the stationary disk in an oiT centerposition and engaging a face of the ring inwardly of i its periphery, abrush carried on the stationary disk and engaging the periphery of themovable disk, and means to turn the latter.

'7. In a switch, a support, a stationary disk oi insulation materialcarried thereby, a turnable disk on the support having an insulatedportion and an outer conductor ring, the disks being parallel and ofabout the same size, a wiper carried by the stationary disk to engage aface of the ring inwardly of its periphery, an angle bracket carrieddetachably by the stationary disk, a brush carried by the bracketparallel with the axis of turning of the turnable disk and having an endengaging the periphery of the turnable disk, means to turn the turnabledisk, and an arcuate portion of the periphery of the turnable diskcomprising insulation material,

8. In a switch, a support, a stationary disk of insulation materialcarried thereby, a turnable disk on the support having an insulatedportion and an outer conductor ring, the disks being parallel and ofabout the same size, a wiper carried by the stationary disk to engage aface of the ring inwardly of its periphery, one or more brushes carriedby the stationary disk, detachable means to mount said brush or brushesin any one of a number of different angularly spaced positions along agiven arcuate portion provided on a face of the stationary disk, saidbrush or brushes when so mounted being disposed parallel with the axisof the turning disk and each having an end spanning and engaging theperiphery of said latter disk, means to turn the turnable disk, and anarcuate portion of the periphery of the turnable disk comprisinginsulation material.

CHARLES J. BREITENSTEIN.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,168,057o August 1, 1959.,

CHARLES 1I. BREITENSTEIN.,

It is ,hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page LL,first column, line 8, claim 5, after "engage insert the words theperipheral edge of the ring; and` means; and that the said LettersPatent should be read with this correction therein that the same mayconform to the record of theoase in the Patent Officen Signed and sealedthis 19th day of September, A. D., 19590 Henry Van Arsdale, (Seal)Acting; Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE oF CORRECTION. Patent No. 2,168,057 t August I, 1959.

CHARIES J. BREITENSTEIN It is hereby certified that error appears in theprinted specification of the above numbered patent requiring Correctionas follows: Page first column, line 8, claim 5, after Y' engage" insertthe words the peripheral edge of the ring; and means; and that the saidLetters Patent should be read with this correction therein that the samemay conform to the record of the Case In the Patent officeo i signed andSealed this. 19th day of september, A. D. 1959o Henry Van Arsdale,(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents

